(J> I start by(B
(J> talking about a simulation that I make to test out(B
(J> certain systems. I only do this major background(B
(J> ONCE. In fact, the background is simply that -- a(B
(J> background. Following that I use that background(B
(J> to study various systems. The same background is(B
(J> literally used thousands of times, while different(B
(J> system variations are examined. At no time is the(B
(J> background a lie. Just because I use it in situ,(B
(J> instead of creating it from scratch each time,(B
(J> does not make it any less real or make me, the(B
(J> Programmer, a lair. For God to use the universe as(B
(J> His background does not cause Him to be liar(B
(J> either.(B
(J> (B

(JAnd perhaps lying _is_ too a strong a statement.(B
(JDepending on the reason for this "simulation" (such as(B
(Jbuilding the earth to find out the answer to "life truth(B
(Jand everything" only to have the Vogons finally manage (B
(Jto destroy the whole thing just before the calculation is (B
(Jfinished), well, maybe God is just a practical joker. Is(B
(Jthere a holy practical joke? Anyway, it wouldn't take (B
(Jmuch for God to outwit any of us. Sort of like dropping (B
(Ja bomb in a barrel of fish or a turkey shoot.(B

(JBut, even given that this is the case, for YEC folk to cast(B
(Jaspersions on other Christians who chose to think (B
(Jdifferently is most assuredly out of order. If God left no (B
(Jfoothold on which we can distinguish these cases --- (B
(Jnot even a blip in the red shift, a chink in the stratigraphy, (B
(Ja divot in the distribution of radioactive materials, in short, (B
(Ja seamless transition --- then neither are we wrong to (B
(Jinfer that the world is billions of years old. (B

(JAnd this is not like the physicists having to admit that (B
(Jthe theologians were right after all. The big bang has (B
(Jmountains of evidence to back it up. So no one can seriously (B
(Jdebate whether the universe had some sort of beginning, (B
(Jthe main debate between maximal naturalists and ourselves(B
(Jis the "who" question (a question of "sovereignty" as Howard (B
(Jhas called it).(B

(JIf people want to believe that, I surely cannot agree with(B
(Jthem on that point, but maybe there are some other things (B
(JI can find in common with them that I can talk about.(B
(J (B